Multi-unit air conditioner and method for controlling operation of outdoor unit fan thereof

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-unit air conditioner.

Background of the Related Art

[0002] In general, the air conditioner is an appliance for cooling or heating spaces, such as living spaces, restaurants, and offices. At present, for effective cooling or heating of a space partitioned into many rooms, it is a trend that there has been ceaseless development of multi-unit air conditioner.

[0003] Document EP 0 509 619 A2 discloses an air conditioning system for heating or cooling multiple indoor rooms, comprising an outdoor unit which includes a compressor and an outdoor heat exchange unit; a plurality of indoor units which include indoor heat exchangers, respectively; two main connecting pipes composed of a high pressure main pipe and a low pressure main pipe to connect between outdoors and indoors; and a distributor which is connected to the main connecting pipes and which includes a gas-liquid separator.

[0004] The multi-unit air conditioner is in general provided with one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units each connected to the outdoor unit and installed in a room, for cooling or heating the room while operating in one of cooling or heating mode.

[0005] However, the multi-unit air conditioner is operative only one mode of cooling or heating uniformly even if one room requires heating, and the other room requires cooling among the many rooms within the partitioned space, the multi-unit air conditioner has a limit in that the requirement can not be dealt with, appropriately.

[0006] For an example, even in a building, there are rooms having a temperature difference depending on locations of the room or time, such as while a north side room requires heating, a south side room requires cooling owing to the sun light, which can not be dealt with a related art multi-unit air conditioner that is operative in a single mode.

[0007] Moreover, even though a building equipped with a computer room requires cooling not only in summer, but also in winter for resolving the problem of heat load of the computer related equipment, the related art multi-unit air conditioner can not deal with such a requirement, appropriately.

[0008] In conclusion, the requirement demands development of multi-unit air conditioner of concurrent cooling/heating type, for air conditioning rooms individually, i.e., the indoor unit installed in a room requiring heating is operative in a heating mode, and, at the same time, the indoor unit installed in a room requiring cooling is operative in a cooling mode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to multi-unit air conditioner that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide multi-unit air conditioner which can carry out heating and cooling at the same time proper to each room.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide multi-unit air conditioner, whichprovides easy installation and more safety inside the rooms.

[0012] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

[0013] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the multi-unit air conditioner has the features of claim 1.

[0014] The multi-unit air conditioner includes control means for controlling a rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan such that a gas-liquid mixture ratio of the refrigerant introduced into the gas-liquid separator through the outdoor unit heat exchanger is regulated suitable to different operation conditions. The control means includes a temperature sensor on an outdoor unit pipe for measuring a temperature of refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit heat exchanger, and a microcomputer for comparing the temperature of refrigerant measured at the temperature sensor and a present refrigerant temperature, to detect a refrigerant mixture ratio in the pipe, and controlling a rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan so that the detected mixture ratio is identical to a preset mixture ratio required for different operation conditions.

[0015] The outdoor unit includes a compressor, an outdoor unit tan. the outdoor unit heat exchanger, an outdoor unit electric expansion valve, the gas-liquid separator, an accumulator, and an outdoor unit piping connected between above elements having a plurality of check valves. and solenoid valves provided thereto.

[0016] The outdoor unit piping includes a discharge pipe connected between the compressor and the outdoor unit heat exchanger, a support pipe connected between the outdoor unit heat exchanger and the gas-liquid separator, a parallel pipe branched from one side of the support pipe and joined to the support pipe again, a gas refrigerant pipe connected between an upper part of the gas-liquid separator and the distributor, a liquid refrigerant pipe connected between a lower part of the gas-liquid separator and the distributor, a suction pipe connected between the distributor and the compressor, a first bypass pipe connected between the discharge pipe and the gas refrigerant pipe, and a second bypass pipe connected between the discharge pipe between the first bypass pipe and the outdoor unit heat exchanger and the suction pipe.

[0017] The discharge pipe has a first solenoid valve provided on a position between the first bypass pipe and the second bypass pipe. The first solenoid valve is opened in operations all rooms are cooled, and a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and closed in operations all rooms are heated, and a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

[0018] The first bypass pipe has a second solenoid valve provided thereon. The second solenoid valve is closed in operations all rooms are cooled, and a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and opened in operations all rooms are heated, and a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

[0019] The second bypass pipe has a third solenoid valve provided thereon. The third solenoid valve is closed in operations all rooms are cooled, and a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and opened in operations all rooms are heated. and a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

[0020] The support pipe has a first check valve provided thereon at a position between one point the parallel pipe is branched therefrom and a point the parallel pipe is joined thereto. for prevention of refrigerant flow from the gas-liquid separator toward the outdoor unit heat exchanger.

[0021] The outdoor unit electric expansion valve is provided on the parallel pipe. The outdoor unit electric expansion valve is closed in operations all rooms are cooled, and a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and operative in operations all rooms are heated, and a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

[0022] There is a second check valve provided on the gas refrigerant pipe between the gas-liquid separator and the first bypass pipe, for prevention of refrigerant flow from a first bypass pipe side to a gas-liquid separator side.

[0023] The accumulator is provided on the suction pipe.

[0024] The distributor includes a distributor piping for guiding gas or liquid refrigerant received through a gas refrigerant pipe or a liquid refrigerant pipe toward the indoor unit, and guiding refrigerant passed through the indoor unit toward the outdoor unit again, and a valve part for controlling refrigerant flow in the distributor piping such that gas or liquid refrigerant is selectively introduced into indoor units in respective rooms and the refrigerant passed through the indoor unit is re-introduced into the outdoor unit according to different operation conditions.

[0025] The distributor piping includes a gas refrigerant connection pipe connected to the gas refrigerant pipe, gas refrigerant branch pipes each branched from the gas refrigerant connection pipe and connected to the indoor unit heat exchanger in each of the rooms, a liquid refrigerant connection pipe connected to the liquid refrigerant pipe, liquid refrigerant branch pipes each branched from the liquid refrigerant connection pipe and connected to the electric expansion valve in each of the rooms, a connection branch pipe branched from each of the gas refrigerant branch pipes, and a common branch pipe having the connection branch pipes joined thereto and connected to the suction pipe.

[0026] The valve part includes a plurality of solenoid valves provided to the gas refrigerant branch pipes, the liquid refrigerant branch pipes, the connection branch pipes and controlled. The valve part in the distributor is controlled such that the solenoid valve on the refrigerant connection pipe on an indoor unit side which heats the room, and the solenoid valve on the gas refrigerant branch pipe on an indoor unit side which cools the room are only closed.

[0027] The electric expansion valve for the indoor unit which heats the room is opened fully. The electric expansion valve for the indoor unit which cools the room is controlled to expand the refrigerant.

[0028] The check valves and the solenoid valves make different refrigerant flow control depending on operation conditions of cooling all rooms, heating all rooms, a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

[0029] The check valves and the solenoid valves are controlled in the operation of cooling all room such that entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor is introduced into the compressor after passed through the outdoor unit heat exchanger, the gas-liquid separator, the distributor, the electric expansion valve, the indoor unit heat exchanger, and the distributor in succession.

[0030] The check valves and the solenoid valves are controlled in the operation of heating all room such that entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor is introduced into the compressor the second bypass pipe after passed through the first bypass pipe, the distributor the indoor unit heat exchanger, the electric expansion valve, the distributor. the gas-liquid separator, the outdoor unit expansion valve, and the outdoor unit heat exchanger in succession.

[0031] The check valves and the solenoid valves are controlled in the operation of cooling a major number of rooms and heating a minor number of rooms such that entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor is introduced into the outdoor unit heat exchanger and the gas-liquid separator, wherefrom liquid refrigerant is introduced into the compressor after passed through the distributor, the cooling room electric expansion valves, the cooling room indoor unit heat exchangers, and the distributor in succession, and gas refrigerant is introduced into the compressor through the distributor, a heating room indoor unit heat exchanger and a heating room electric expansion valve, joined with the liquid refrigerant in the distributor, and passed through the cooling room electric expansion valves, cooling room indoor unit heat exchangers, and the distributor.

[0032] The check valves and the solenoid valves are controlled in the operation of heating a major number of rooms and cooling a minor number of rooms such that entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor is introduced into the distributor through the first bypass pipe, and, therefrom, reintroduced into the distributor via the heating room indoor unit heat exchangers and the heating room electric expansion valves, and a portion of which refrigerant is introduced into the compressor via the cooling room electric expansion valve and the cooling room indoor unit heat exchanger and the distributor, and the other portion of which refrigerant is introduced into the compressor via the gas-liquid separator, the outdoor unit electric expansion valve, and the outdoor unit heat exchanger and through the second bypass pipe.

[0033] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention:

[0035] In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit diagram showing multi-unit air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A illustrates a circuit diagram showing an operation state of the multi-unit air conditioner in FIG. 1 when all rooms are cooled;

FIG. 2B illustrates a circuit diagram showing an operation state of the multi-unit air conditioner in FIG. 1 when all rooms are heated;

FIG. 3A illustrates a circuit diagram showing an operation state of the multi-unit air conditioner in FIG. 1 when a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated; and

FIG. 3B illustrates a circuit diagram showing an operation state of the multi-unit air conditioner in FIG. 1 when a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In describing the embodiments of the present invention, same parts will be given the same names and reference symbols, and iterative description of which will be omitted.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, the air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an outdoor unit 'A', a distributor 'B', and a plurality of indoor units 'C'; 'C1', 'C2', and 'C3', wherein the air conditioner has a system in which rooms the indoor units 'C'; 'C1', 'C2', and 'C3' are installed therein respectively are cooled or heated independently depending on different operation conditions of cooling all rooms, heating all rooms, cooling a major number of the rooms and heating a minor number of rooms, and heating a major number of the rooms and cooling a minor number of rooms, detail of which will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

[0038] For convenience of description, the following drawing reference symbols 22 represents 22a, 22b, and 22c, 24 represents 24a, 24b, and 24c, 25 represents 25a, 25b, and 25c, 31 represents 31a, 31b, and 31c, 61 represents 61a, 61b, and 61c, 62 represents 62a, 62b, and 62c, and C represents C1, C2, and C3. Of course, a number of the indoor units 'C' and numbers of elements related to the indoor units are varied with a number of rooms, and for convenience of description, the specification describes assuming a case when there are three rooms.

[0039] The outdoor unit 'A' includes a compressor 1, an outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 and an outdoor unit fan 2a, a gas-liquid separator 3, an outdoor unit electric expansion valve 13a, an accumulator 19, and a refrigerant piping connecting respective units and provided with a plurality of check valve and solenoid valves, of which detailed system will be described.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1, the compressor 1 and the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 are connected with a discharge pipe 4. The outdoor fan 2a blow air toward the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2. The compressor 1 has a suction pipe 8 connected to a suction side thereof, with an accumulator 19 on the suction pipe 8.

[0041] The outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 and the gas-liquid separator 3 are connected with a support pipe 5, with a parallel pipe 13 branched from one point of the support pipe 5 and connected to the other point of the support pipe 5 to form a bypass path. There is an outdoor unit electric expansion valve 13a on the parallel pipe 13, so that the outdoor unit electric expansion valve 13a is closed in operations all rooms are cooled, and a major number of the room are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and operative in operations all rooms are heated, and a major number of the room are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

[0042] There is a first check valve 5a on the support pipe 5 between one point and the other point the parallel pipe 13 is connected thereto. The check valve 5a permits a refrigerant flow from the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 to the gas-liquid separator 3, and blocks a refrigerant flow from the gas-liquid separator 3 to the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2.

[0043] The gas-liquid separator 3 has a liquid refrigerant pipe 7 connected to a lower side thereof, and a gas refrigerant pipe 6 connected to an upper side thereof. The liquid refrigerant pipe 7 and the gas refrigerant pipe 6 are connected to a pipe on the distributor 'B' side respectively.

[0044] There is a first bypass pipe 11 connected between one point of the gas refrigerant pipe 6 and one point of the discharge pipe 4. There is a second solenoid valve 11a on the first bypass pipe 11 controlled such that the second solenoid valve 11a is closed in operations all the rooms are cooled and a major number of the rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated. and opened in operations all the rooms are heated and a major number of the rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled. There is a second check valve 6a on the gas refrigerant pipe 6 between the one point the first bypass pipe 11 is connected thereto and the gas-liquid separator 3. The second check valve 6a permits refrigerant flow from the gas-liquid separator 3 to the distributor 'B', and blocks refrigerant flow from the first bypass pipe 11 to the gas-liquid separator 3.

[0045] There is a second bypass pipe 12 connected between one point of the discharge pipe 4 between the first bypass pipe 11 and the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 and one point of the suction pipe 8. The second bypass pipe 12 is connected such that the accumulator 19 is positioned between the compressor 1 and the second bypass pipe 12. There is a third solenoid valve 12a on the second bypass pipe 12, controlled so that the second bypass valve 12a is closed in operations all the rooms are cooled and a major number of the rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and opened in operations all the rooms are heated and a major number of the rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

[0046] There is a first solenoid valve 4a on the discharge pipe 4 between one point the first bypass pipe 11 is connected thereto and one point the second bypass pipe 12 is connected thereto.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 1, the distributor 'B' includes a distributor pipe 20 and a valve part 30.

[0048] The distributor pipe 20 guides gas or liquid refrigerant introduced thereto through the gas refrigerant pipe 6 or the liquid refrigerant pipe 7 toward the indoor units "C", and refrigerant discharged from the indoor units 'C' to the outdoor unit 'A' again. The distributor pipe 20 includes a gas refrigerant connection pipe 21, a gas refrigerant branch pipe 22, a liquid refrigerant connection pipe 23, a liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24, a connection branch pipe 25, and a common branch pipe 26, of which detail is as follows.

[0049] The gas refrigerant pipe 21 has one end connected to the gas refrigerant pipe 6 on the outdoor unit 'A', and the liquid refrigerant pipe 23 has one end connected to the liquid refrigerant pipe 7 on the outdoor unit 'A'.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 1, the gas refrigerant branch pipe 22 has a plurality of branches from the gas refrigerant connection pipe 21 connected to the indoor unit heat exchangers 62 in the indoor units 'C', and the liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24 has a plurality of branches from the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 23 connected to the electric expansion valve 61 in the indoor units 'C'.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 1, the connection branch pipe 25 is branched from each of the gas refrigerant branch pipes 22, and the common branch pipe 26 connects the connection branch pipes 25 branched from the gas refrigerant branch pipes 22 into one, and is connected to the suction pipe 8 in the outdoor unit 'A'.

[0052] The valve part 30 serves to control refrigerant flow in the distributor pipe 20, such that gas or liquid is introduced into the indoor units 'C' of the rooms selectively depending on respective operation conditions of cooling all rooms, heating all rooms, cooling a major number of the rooms and heating a minor number of rooms, and heating a major number of the rooms and cooling a minor number of rooms, and introducing the gas or liquid refrigerant from the indoor units 'C' to the outdoor unit 'A' again.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 1, the valve part 30 includes a plurality of solenoid valves 31; 31a, 31b, and 31c on the gas refrigerant branch pipes 22, the gas refrigerant branch pipes 24, and the connection branch pipes 25. The plurality of solenoid valves 31 are controlled such that only the solenoid valves on refrigerant connection pipes on the indoor unit side for heating, and the solenoid valves on the gas refrigerant branch pipe on the indoor side for cooling are closed, of which detailed control depending on different operation conditions will be described, later.

[0054] Next, the indoor units 'C' are installed in the rooms, each inclusive of an indoor unit heat exchanger 62, an electric expansion valve 61, and a room fan (not shown).

[0055] The indoor unit heat exchanger 62 is connected to the gas refrigerant branch pipe 22 in the distributor 'B', and the electric expansion valve 61 is connected to the liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24 in the distributor. The indoor unit heat exchangers 62 and the electric expansion valves 61 are connected with refrigerant pipe to one another.

[0056] The indoor unit fan is installed so as to blow air toward the indoor unit heat exchanger 62.

[0057] In the meantime, there may be control means further included to the multi-unit air conditioner of the present invention for controlling a rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan 2a.

[0058] The control means includes a temperature sensor 14 and a microcomputer (not shown), for controlling the rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan 2a so that a gas-liquid mixture ratio of the refrigerant introduced into the gas-liquid separator 3 through the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 is controlled depending on the different operation conditions.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 1, the temperature sensor 14 is fitted to the support pipe 5, for measuring a refrigerant temperature flowing through the support pipe 5 after being discharged from the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2.

[0060] After comparing a refrigerant temperature measured at the temperature sensor 14 and a preset refrigerant temperature, to detect the gas-liquid mixture ratio of the refrigerant flowing in the support pipe 5, the microcomputer controls outdoor unit fan 2a to vary the rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan 2a so that the detected gas-liquid mixture ratio is identical to a preset gas-liquid mixture ratio required under the different operation conditions.

[0061] Depending on the different operation conditions, the multi-unit air conditioner of the present invention is operative such that, after the gas refrigerant from the compressor 1 is introduced into the distributor 'B' directly through the first bypass pipe 11, or after separated into gas and liquid via the outdoor heat exchanger 2 and the gas-liquid separator 3, the liquid refrigerant is introduced into the compressor 1 after passed through the electric expansion valve and the indoor unit heat exchanger of the indoor unit which cools the room, and the distributor 'B', and the gas refrigerant is introduced into the compressor 1 through the second bypass pipe 12 after passed through the indoor unit heat exchanger and the electric expansion valve of the indoor unit which heat the room via the distributor 'B', the gas-liquid separator 3, the outdoor unit electric expansion valve 13a and the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2, of which detailed operation process will be described for each of the different operation conditions, separately. For the convenience of description, it is assumed that two indoor units C1 and C2 carry out cooling, and the third indoor unit C3 carries out heating in the operation a major number of the rooms are cooled, and a small number of the rooms are heated. Two indoor units C1 and C2 carry out heating, and the third indoor unit C3 carries out cooling in the operation a major number of the rooms are heated, and a small number of the rooms are cooled.

[0062] FIG. 2A illustrates a circuit diagram showing an operation state of the multi-unit air conditioner in FIG. 1 when all rooms are cooled. wherein the operation condition of cooling all rooms has a circulation path in which entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is introduced into the compressor 1 after passing through the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2, the gas-liquid separator 3, the distributor 'B', the electric expansion valve 61, the indoor unit heat exchanger 62, and the distributor 'B' in succession, of which detail is as follows.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 2A, the gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is introduced into the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 through the discharge pipe 4. In this instance, for guiding the gas refrigerant toward the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2, the first solenoid valve 4a is opened, and the second solenoid valve 11a on the first bypass pipe 11 and the third solenoid valve 12a on the second bypass pipe 12 are closed.

[0064] The refrigerant introduced into the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 makes heat exchange with external air blown from the outdoor unit fan 2a controlled by the control means, until supercooled into a liquid state, passes through the first check valve 5a as it flows through the support pipe 5, and introduced into the gas-liquid separator 3. In this instance, the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 serves as a condenser, and the outdoor unit electric expansion valve on the parallel pipe 13 is closed.

[0065] The high pressure liquid refrigerant introduced into the gas-liquid separator 3 passes through the liquid refrigerant pipe 7, and the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 23 in succession, and divided and introduced into the liquid refrigerant branch pipes 24. The liquid refrigerant introduced into the liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24 is introduced into the indoor units 'C' after passed through the solenoid valve on the liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24.

[0066] The liquid refrigerant introduced into the indoor unit 'C' is expanded at the expansion valve 61, cools down the room as the refrigerant vaporizes at the indoor unit heat exchanger 62 and makes heat exchange with room air, and introduced into the gas refrigerant branch pipe 22. In this instance, the indoor unit heat exchanger 62 serves as a vaporizer.

[0067] The gas refrigerant introduced into the gas refrigerant branch pipe 22 is introduced into the common branch pipe 26 through the connection branch pipe 25. In this instance, for guiding the gas refrigerant toward the connection branch pipe 25, the solenoid valve on the gas refrigerant branch pipe 22 is closed. The gas refrigerant introduced into the common branch pipe 26 is introduced into the compressor 1 via the suction pipe 8 and the accumulator 19.

[0068] FIG. 2B illustrates a circuit diagram showing an operation state of the multi-unit air conditioner in FIG. 1 when all rooms are heated, wherein the operation condition of heating all rooms has a circulation path in which entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is introduced into the compressor 1 through the second bypass pipe 12 after passing through the first bypass pipe 11, the distributor 'B', the indoor unit heat exchanger 62, the electric expansion valve 61, the distributor 'B', the outdoor unit electric expansion valve 13a, and the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 in succession, of which detail is as follows.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 2B, the gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 moves through the discharge pipe 4 toward the gas refrigerant pipe 6 through the first bypass pipe 11 as the first solenoid valve 4a is closed.

[0070] The gas refrigerant introduced into the gas refrigerant pipe 6 moves toward the gas refrigerant connection pipe 21 in the distributor 'B' as flow toward the gas-liquid separator 3 is limited.

[0071] The gas refrigerant introduced into the gas refrigerant connection pipe 21 is introduced into the gas refrigerant branch pipes 22, and, therefrom to the indoor unit heat exchangers 62 in the indoor unit 'C' as the solenoid valves on the connection branch pipes 25 are closed.

[0072] The gas refrigerant introduced into the indoor unit heat exchanger 62 makes heat exchange with the air blown from the indoor unit fan, to discharge condensing heat and heat the room. when the indoor unit heat exchanger 62 serves as a condenser.

[0073] The liquid refrigerant supercooled and condensed at the indoor unit heat exchanger 62 passes through the electric expansion valve 61 opened fully. and is introduced into the gas-liquid separator 3 in the outdoor unit 'A' through the liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24, the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 23, and the liquid refrigerant pipe 7.

[0074] The liquid refrigerant introduced into the gas-liquid separator 3 is introduced into the parallel pipe 13 as the first check valve 5a blocks the flow path, expanded at the outdoor unit electric expansion valve 13a, and makes heat exchange and vaporizes at the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2, when the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 serves as an evaporator.

[0075] The liquid refrigerant supercooled and condensed at the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 is guided to the second bypass pipe 12 through the discharge pipe 4 as the first solenoid valve 4a is closed, and introduced into the compressor 1 via the second bypass pipe 12, the suction pipe 8 and the accumulator 19.

[0076] FIG. 3A illustrates a circuit diagram showing an operation state of the multi-unit air conditioner in FIG. 1 when a major number of the rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, wherein the operation condition of cooling a major number of rooms and heating a minor number of rooms has a circulation path in which entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is introduced into the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 and the gas-liquid separator 3, wherefrom the liquid refrigerant is introduced into the compressor 1 after passing through the distributor 3, cooling room electric expansion valves 61a and 61b, cooling room indoor unit heat exchangers 62a and 62b, and the distributor 'B' in succession, and gas refrigerant is introduced into the compressor 1 through the distributor 'B', a heating room indoor unit heat exchanger 62c and a heating room electric expansion valve 61c, joined with the liquid refrigerant in the distributor 'B', and passed through the cooling room electric expansion valves 61a and 61b, cooling room indoor unit heat exchangers 62a and 62b, and the distributor B', of which detail is as follows.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 3A, the gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is introduced into the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 through the discharge pipe 4, when. for guidance of the gas refrigerant, the first solenoid valve 4a is opened, and the second solenoid valve 11a on the first bypass pipe 11 and the third solenoid valve 12a on the second bypass pipe 12 are closed.

[0078] In the meantime, the gas refrigerant introduced into the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 makes heat exchange with external air blown from the outdoor unit fan 2a, to have a gas-liquid mixture ratio suitable for operation for cooling a major number of the rooms and heating a minor number of rooms. That is, if a large amount of external air is blown to the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 owing to a high rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan 2a, a liquid ratio in the refrigerant becomes high, and if a small amount of external air is blown to the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 owing to a low rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan 2a, a gas ratio in the refrigerant becomes high. The present invention suggests to control the rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan 2a by means of control means, for obtaining an optimal gas-liquid mixture ratio required for an operation for cooling a major number of the rooms and heating a minor number of rooms.

[0079] A method for controlling operation of an outdoor unit fan in an air conditioner of the present invention for obtaining the optimal gas-liquid mixture ratio is as follows.

[0080] A temperature of the gas-liquid mixture refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 is measured at the temperature sensor 14 on the support pipe 5.

[0081] Then, a refrigerant temperature measured at the temperature sensor 14 and a preset refrigerant temperature are compared, to detect the gas-liquid mixture ratio of the refrigerant.

[0082] Next, the rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan 2a is changed such that the detected gas-liquid mixture ratio of the refrigerant is identical to the preset mixture ratio required for an operation condition for cooling a major number of rooms and heating a minor number of rooms.

[0083] Once the control means changes the rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan 2a by above method, the multi-unit air conditioner of the present invention can optimize the gas-liquid mixture ratio of the refrigerant under all conditions, thereby improving a cooling/heating efficiency.

[0084] When the control means controls the outdoor unit fan 2a by above method, the refrigerant mixture ratios set at the microcomputer are experimental values fixed from tests under different load conditions, such as suitable to the two cooling side indoor units C 1 and C2 which require liquid refrigerant and the one heating indoor unit C3 which requires gas refrigerant, or suitable to a flow rate of the liquid refrigerant introduced into the two cooling side indoor units C1 and C2 through the one heating indoor unit C3, or the like.

[0085] The control of the outdoor unit fan 2a carried out thus is applicable to operation conditions for cooling all rooms, and heating a major number of rooms and cooling a minor number of rooms.

[0086] In the meantime, the two phased refrigerant mixed at an optimal gas-liquid mixture ratio at the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 is introduced into the gas-liquid separator 3 through the support pipe 5. For guiding the refrigerant thus, the outdoor unit electric expansion valve 13a on the parallel pipe 13 is closed.

[0087] The high pressure two phased refrigerant introduced into the gas-liquid separator 3 is separated into liquid phase refrigerant and gas phase refrigerant, wherein the liquid phase refrigerant is introduced into the liquid refrigerant pipe 7 and the gas refrigerant is introduced into the gas refrigerant pipe 6.

[0088] The liquid refrigerant introduced into the liquid refrigerant pipe 7 is divided into the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 23, the first liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24a and the second liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24b, expanded as the liquid refrigerant passes through the first electric expansion valve 61a and the second electric expansion valve 61b, and makes heat exchange as the refrigerant passes through the first indoor unit heat exchanger 62a and the second indoor unit heat exchanger 62b, to cool down the rooms.

[0089] The gas refrigerant, vaporized at the first indoor unit heat exchanger 62a and the second indoor unit heat exchanger 62b while cooling down the rooms, is introduced into a common branch pipe 26 through the first gas refrigerant branch pipe 22a and the second gas refrigerant branch pipe 22b, and the first connection branch pipe 25a and the second connection branch pipe 25b. In this instance, for guiding the gas refrigerant, the solenoid valves 31a and 31b on the first gas refrigerant branch pipe 22a and the second gas refrigerant branch pipe 22b and the solenoid valve on the third connection branch pipe 25c on the third indoor unit C3 are closed. The gas refrigerant introduced into the common branch pipe 26 is introduced into the compressor 1 through the suction pipe 8 and the accumulator 19.

[0090] In the meantime, entire gas refrigerant, separated at the gas-liquid separator 3 and introduced into the gas refrigerant pipes 6, is introduced into the gas refrigerant connection pipe 21, and, therefrom, to the third gas refrigerant branch pipe 22c on the indoor unit C3 side as the solenoid valves 31a and 31b on the first gas refrigerant branch pipe 22a and the second gas refrigerant branch pipe 22b on the sides of the indoor units C and C2 are closed.

[0091] The gas refrigerant introduced into the third gas refrigerant branch pipe 22c is introduced into the third indoor unit heat exchanger 62c, and makes heat exchange to discharge heat, and heat the room as the solenoid valve on the third connection branch pipe 25c is closed, then introduced into the third liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24c through the third electric expansion valve 61c, and joined with the liquid refrigerant flowing in the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 23. After the joining, the refrigerant introduced into the indoor units C1 and C2 cool respective rooms. and introduced into the compressor 1.

[0092] In this instance, the liquid refrigerant introduced into the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 23 through the liquid refrigerant pipe 7 is introduced, not to the third indoor unit C3 side. but only to the sides of the first indoor unit C1 and the second indoor unit C2 owing to a pressure difference. That is, it is because a pressure of the refrigerant from the third liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24c is higher than a pressure of the refrigerant flowing toward the first liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24a and the second refrigerant branch pipe 24b.

[0093] FIG. 3B illustrates a circuit diagram showing an operation state of the multi-unit air conditioner in FIG. 1 when a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled, wherein the operation condition of heating a major number of rooms and cooling a minor number of rooms has a circulation path in which entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is introduced into the distributor 'B' through the first bypass pipe 11, and, therefrom, reintroduced into the distributor 'B' via the heating room indoor unit heat exchangers 62a and 62b and the heating room electric expansion valves 61a and 61b, and a portion of which refrigerant is introduced into the compressor 1 via the cooling room electric expansion valve 61c and the cooling room indoor unit heat exchanger 62c and the distributor 'B', and the other portion of which refrigerant is introduced into the compressor 1 via the gas-liquid separator 3, the outdoor unit electric expansion valve 13a, and the outdoor unit heat exchanger 2 and through the second bypass pipe 12, of which detail is as follows.

[0094] Referring to FIG. 3B, the gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is guided to the first bypass pipe 11 by the closed first solenoid valve through the discharge pipe 4, and introduced into the gas refrigerant pipe 6.

[0095] The gas refrigerant introduced into the gas refrigerant pipe 6 is introduced into the gas refrigerant connection pipe 21 on a side of the distributor 'B' by blocking of the second check valve 6a. introduced into and condensed at the first indoor heat exchanger 62a and the second indoor heat exchanger 62b through the first gas refrigerant branch pipe 22a and the second gas refrigerant branch pipe 22b, and introduced into the first liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24a and the second refrigerant branch pipe 24b via the first electric expansion valve 61a and the second electric expansion valve 61b. In this instance, the first electric expansion valve 61a and the second electric expansion valve 61b are fully opened.

[0096] The liquid refrigerant introduced into the first liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24a and the second refrigerant branch pipe 24b is introduced into the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 23, and a portion of the liquid refrigerant is branched toward the liquid refrigerant pipe 7, and the other portion thereof is branched toward the third liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24c.

[0097] In this instance, the portion of liquid refrigerant branched to, and flowing in the liquid refrigerant pipe 7 is introduced into the gas-liquid separator 3, passes through the outdoor unit electric expansion valve 13a on the parallel pipe 13 guided by the first check valve 5a, and introduced into the compressor 1 through the indoor unit heat exchanger 2, the second bypass pipe 12 and the suction pipe 8.

[0098] The other portion of the liquid refrigerant branch to, and flowing in the third liquid refrigerant branch pipe 24c passes and expands through the third electric expansion valve 61c, makes heat exchange at the third indoor unit heat exchanger 62c and cools down the room. The gas refrigerant vaporized as the refrigerant cools the room passes the third gas refrigerant branch pipe 22c and the third connection branch pipe 25c, joins with the common branch pipe 26 through the third gas refrigerant branch pipe 22c and the third connection branch pipe 25c, and introduced into the compressor 1 through the suction pipe 8.

[0099] The present invention having the foregoing system and operative thus has the following advantages.

[0100] First, optimal dealing with individual room environments are made available by the multi-unit air conditioner of the present invention. That is, not only the all room heating operation and the all room cooling operation, but also an operation a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled, and an operation a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, when the rooms are selectively heated or cooled, are made available, thereby permitting to deal with individual room environments.

[0101] Second, the product cost is reduced because the piping is provided with inexpensive and simple on/off valves, instead of expensive three way, and four way valves.

[0102] Third, the mounting of the gas-liquid separator, not on the distributor, but on the outdoor unit, permits reduction of weight of the distributor, not only making mounting of the distributor simple, but also assuring safety after the mounting more. This is because in general while the outdoor unit 'A' is mounted on a sidewall surface or on a floor of a roof top outside of the room, the distributor 'B' is mounted on a ceiling inside of the room, making mounting of the distributor 'B' is more difficult than the outdoor unit 'A', particularly, if the distributor 'B' is heavy, when the mounting, not only is difficult, but also requires reinforcing for supporting the distributor 'B', or otherwise, the distributor 'B' can fall down from the ceiling due to the heavy weight, the gas-liquid separator 3 is fitted in the outdoor unit 'A'.

[0103] Fourth, the optimization of the gas-liquid mixture ratio of the two phased refrigerant introduced into the gas-liquid separator in the operations of cooling all rooms and cooling a major number of rooms and heating a minor number of rooms permits improvement of an air conditioning efficiency.

[0104] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims.

[0105] Summarized, the invention provides a multi-unit air conditioner for independent cooling/heating of rooms, according to the features of claim 1.

Claims

1. A multi-unit air conditioner comprising:

an outdoor unit (A) including an outdoor unit heat exchanger (2);

an indoor unit (C) in each of a plurality of rooms having an indoor unit heat exchanger (62a, 62b, 62c) and an electric expansion valve (61a, 61b, 61c);

a distributor (B) connected between the outdoor unit (A) and the indoor unit (C), for leading gas refrigerant from the outdoor unit (A) to the indoor unit heat exchanger (62a, 62b, 62c) in the indoor unit (C) which heats the room, liquid refrigerant from the outdoor unit (A) to the electric expansion valve (61a, 61b, 61c) on the indoor unit (C) which cools the room, refrigerant passed through the indoor unit (C) to the outdoor unit (A) again, wherein, when heating and cooling are carried out for the rooms individually, the refrigerant liquefied as the refrigerant passes through the indoor unit (C) which heats the room is lead to the outdoor unit (A) after being lead to the electric expansion valve (61a, 61b, 61c) of the indoor unit (C) which cools the room again; and

a refrigerant piping connected between above units (A, B, C) inclusive of a plurality of check valves (5a, 6a) and solenoid valves (4a, 11a, 12a) provided thereto for controlling flow paths of the refrigerant,

characterized in that
the outdoor unit (A) further includes a gas-liquid separator (3) connected to an outlet side of the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2) for separating refrigerant from the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2) into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and discharging separately, and
the multi-unit air conditioner further comprises control means for controlling a rotational speed of an outdoor unit fan (2a) such that a gas-liquid mixture ratio of the refrigerant introduced into the gas-liquid separator (3) through the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2) is regulated suitable to different operation conditions.

2. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means includes;
a temperature sensor (14) on an outdoor unit pipe for measuring a temperature of refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2); and
a microcomputer for comparing the temperature of refrigerant measured at the temperature sensor (14) and a preset refrigerant temperature, to detect a refrigerant mixture ratio in the pipe (5), and controlling a rotational speed of the outdoor unit fan (2a) so that the detected mixture ratio is identical to a preset mixture ratio required for different operation conditions.

3. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outdoor unit (A) includes a compressor (1), an outdoor unit fan (2a), the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2), an outdoor unit electric expansion valve (13a), the gas-liquid separator (3), an accumulator (19), and an outdoor unit piping connected between above elements having a plurality of check valves (5a, 6a), and solenoid valves (4a, 11a, 12a) provided thereto.

4. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outdoor unit piping includes;
a discharge pipe (4) connected between the compressor (1) and the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2),
a support pipe (5) connected between the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2) and the gas-liquid separator (3),
a parallel pipe (13) branched from one side of the support pipe (5) and joined to the support pipe (5) again,
a gas refrigerant pipe (6) connected between an upper part of the gas-liquid separator (3) and the distributor (B),
a liquid refrigerant pipe (7) connected between a lower part of the gas-liquid separator (3) and the distributor (B),
a suction pipe (8) connected between the distributor (B) and the compressor (1),
a first bypass pipe (11) connected between the discharge pipe (4) and the gas refrigerant pipe (6), and
a second bypass pipe (12) connected between the discharge pipe (4) between the first bypass pipe (11) and the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2) and the suction pipe (8).

5. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 4, wherein the discharge pipe (4) has a first solenoid valve (4a) provided on a position between the first bypass pipe (11) and the second bypass pipe (12).

6. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first solenoid valve (4a) is opened in operations all rooms are cooled, and a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and closed in operations all rooms are heated, and a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

7. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the first bypass pipe (11) has a second solenoid valve (11a) provided thereon.

8. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second solenoid valve (11a) is closed in operations all rooms are cooled, and a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and opened in operations all rooms are heated, and a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

9. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the second bypass pipe (12) has a third solenoid valve (12a) provided thereon.

10. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 9, wherein the third solenoid valve (12a) is closed in operations all rooms are cooled, and a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and opened in operations all rooms are heated, and a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

11. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the support pipe (5) has a first check valve (5a) provided thereon at a position between one point the parallel pipe (13) is branched therefrom and a point the parallel pipe (13) is joined thereto, for prevention of refrigerant flow from the gas-liquid separator (3) toward the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2).

12. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the outdoor unit electric expansion valve (13a) is provided on the parallel pipe (13).

13. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 12, wherein the outdoor unit electric expansion valve (13a) is closed in operations all rooms are cooled, and a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, and operative in operations all rooms are heated, and a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

14. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 4 to 13, wherein there is a second check valve (6a) provided on the gas refrigerant pipe (6) between the gas-liquid separator (3) and the first bypass pipe (11), for prevention of refrigerant flow from a first bypass pipe side to a gas-liquid separator side.

15. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 4 to 14, wherein the accumulator (19) is provided on the suction pipe (8).

16. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 4 to 15, wherein the distributor (B) includes;
a distributor piping for guiding gas or liquid refrigerant received through a gas refrigerant pipe (6) or a liquid refrigerant pipe (7) toward the indoor unit (C), and guiding refrigerant passed through the indoor unit (C) toward the outdoor unit (A) again, and
a valve part for controlling refrigerant flow in the distributor (B) piping such that gas or liquid refrigerant is selectively introduced into indoor units (C) in respective rooms and the refrigerant passed through the indoor unit (C) is re-introduced into the outdoor unit (A) according to different operation conditions.

17. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 16, wherein the distributor (B) piping includes;
a gas refrigerant connection pipe (21) connected to the gas refrigerant pipe (6),
gas refrigerant branch pipes (22a, 22b, 22c) each branched from the gas refrigerant connection pipe (21) and connected to the indoor unit heat exchanger (62a, 62b, 62c) in each of the rooms,
a liquid refrigerant connection pipe (23) connected to the liquid refrigerant pipe (7),
liquid refrigerant branch pipes (24a, 24b, 24c) each branched from the liquid refrigerant connection pipe (23) and connected to the electric expansion valve (61a, 61b, 61c) in each of the rooms,
a connection branch pipe (25a, 25b, 25c) branched from each of the gas refrigerant branch pipes (22a, 22b, 22c), and
a common branch pipe having the connection branch pipes joined thereto and connected to the suction pipe (8).

18. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 17, wherein the valve part (30) includes a plurality of solenoid valves (4a, 11a, 12a) provided to the gas refrigerant branch pipes (22a, 22b, 22c), the liquid refrigerant branch pipes (24a, 24b, 24c), the connection branch pipes (25a, 25b, 25c) and controlled.

19. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 18, wherein the valve part (30) in the distributor (B) is controlled such that the solenoid valve on the refrigerant connection pipe on an indoor unit side which heats the room, and the solenoid valve (31a, 31b, 31c) on the gas refrigerant branch pipe (22a, 22b, 22c) on an indoor unit side which cools the room are only closed.

20. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 4 to 19, wherein the check valves (5a, 6a) and the solenoid valves (4a, 11a, 12a) make different refrigerant flow control depending on operation conditions of cooling all rooms, heating all rooms, a major number of rooms are cooled and a minor number of rooms are heated, a major number of rooms are heated and a minor number of rooms are cooled.

21. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 20, wherein the check valves (5a, 6a) and the solenoid valves (4a, 11a, 12a) are controlled in the operation of cooling all room such that entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) is introduced into the compressor (1) after passed through the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2), the gas-liquid separator (3), the distributor (B), the electric expansion valve (13a), the indoor unit heat exchanger (62a, 62b, 62c), and the distributor (B) in succession.

22. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the check valves (5a, 6a) and the solenoid valves (4a, 11a, 12a) are controlled in the operation of heating all room such that entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) is introduced into the compressor (1) the second bypass pipe (12) after passed through the first bypass pipe (11), the distributor (B), the indoor unit heat exchanger (62a, 62b, 62c), the electric expansion valve (61a,61b,61c), the distributor (B), the gas-liquid separator (3), the outdoor unit expansion valve, and the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2) in succession.

23. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 20 to 22, wherein the check valves (5a,6a) and the solenoid valves (4a, 11a, 12a) are controlled in the operation of cooling a major number of rooms and heating a minor number of rooms such that entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) is introduced into the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2) and the gas-liquid separator (3), wherefrom liquid refrigerant is introduced into the compressor (1) after passed through the distributor (B), the cooling room electric expansion valves (61a, 61b, 61c), the cooling room indoor unit heat exchangers (62a, 62b, 62c), and the distributor (B) in succession, and gas refrigerant is introduced into the compressor (1) through the distributor (B), a heating room indoor unit heat exchanger (62a, 62b, 62c) and a heating room electric expansion valve (61a, 61b, 61c), joined with the liquid refrigerant in the distributor (B), and passed through the cooling room electric expansion valves (61a, 61b, 61c), cooling room indoor unit heat exchangers (62a, 62b, 62c), and the distributor (B).

24. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in claim 20 to 23, wherein the check valves (5a, 6a) and the solenoid valves (4a, 11a, 12a) are controlled in the operation of heating a major number of rooms and cooling a minor number of rooms such that entire refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) is introduced into the distributor (B) through the first bypass pipe (11), and, therefrom, reintroduced into the distributor (B) via the heating room indoor unit heat exchangers (62a, 62b, 62c) and the heating room electric expansion valves (61a, 61b, 61c), and a portion of which refrigerant is introduced into the compressor (1) via the cooling room electric expansion valve (61a,61b,61c) and the cooling room indoor unit heat exchanger (62a, 62b, 62c) and the distributor (B), and the other portion of which refrigerant is introduced into the compressor (1) via the gas-liquid separator (3), the outdoor unit electric expansion valve (13a), and the outdoor unit heat exchanger (2) and through the second bypass pipe (12).

25. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the electric expansion valve (61a, 61b, 61c) for the indoor unit (C) which heats the room is opened fully.

26. The multi-unit air conditioner as claimed in one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the electric expansion valve (61a, 61b, 61c) for the indoor unit (C) which cools the room is controlled to expand the refrigerant.

Ansprüche

1. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage, die Folgendes umfasst:

eine Außeneinheit (A), die einen Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) enthält;

eine Inneneinheit (C) in jedem von mehreren Räumen mit einem Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c) und einem elektrischen Expansionsventil (61a, 61b, 61c);

einen Verteiler (B), der zwischen der Außeneinheit (A) und der Inneneinheit (C) angeschlossen ist, zum Leiten von gasförmigem Kältemittel von der Außeneinheit (A) zu dem Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c) in der Inneneinheit (C), die den Raum heizt, flüssigem Kältemittel von der Außeneinheit (A) zu dem elektrischen Expansionsventil (61a, 61b, 61c) an der Inneneinheit (C), die den Raum kühlt, und Kältemittel, das durch die Inneneinheit (C) wieder zu der Außeneinheit (A) strömt, wobei, wenn Heizen und Kühlen für die Räume individuell ausgeführt werden, das Kältemittel, das verflüssig wird, wenn das Kältemittel durch die Inneneinheit (C), die den Raum heizt, strömt, zu der Außeneinheit (A) geleitet wird, nachdem es wieder zu dem elektrischen Expansionsventil (61a, 61b, 61c) der Inneneinheit (C), die den Raum kühlt, geleitet wurde; und

eine Kältemittelrohrleitung, die zwischen den oben genannten Einheiten (A, B, C) angeschlossen ist, einschließlich mehrerer Rückschlagventile (5a, 6a) und Magnetventile (4a, 11a, 12a), die daran angebracht sind, um Strömungswege des Kältemittels zu steuern,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Außeneinheit (A) des Weiteren eine Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3) enthält, die auf einer Auslassseite des Außeneinheit-Wärmetauschers (2) angeschlossen ist, um Kältemittel aus dem Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) in gasförmiges Kältemittel und flüssiges Kältemittel zu trennen und separat abzulassen, und
die Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage des Weiteren ein Steuerungsmittel umfasst, um eine Drehzahl eines Außeneinheit-Gebläses (2a) so zu steuern, dass ein Gas-Flüssigkeit-Mischungsverhältnis des Kältemittels, das über den Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) in die Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3) eingeleitet wird, so geregelt wird, wie es für unterschiedliche Betriebsbedingungen geeignet ist.

2. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Steuerungsmittel Folgendes enthält:

einen Temperatursensor (14) an einer Außeneinheit-Leitung zum Messen einer Temperatur von Kältemittel, das aus dem Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) abgelassen wird; und

einen Mikrocomputer zum Vergleichen der Temperatur von Kältemittel, das an dem Temperatursensor (14) gemessen wurde, und einer voreingestellten Kältemitteltemperatur, um ein Kältemittel-Mischungsverhältnis in der Leitung (5) zu detektieren, und zum Steuern einer Drehzahl des Außeneinheit-Gebläses (2a) dergestalt, dass das detektierte Mischungsverhältnis mit einem voreingestellten Mischungsverhältnis, das für unterschiedliche Betriebsbedingungen benötigt wird, identisch ist.

3. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Außeneinheit (A) Folgendes enthält: einen Kompressor (1), ein Außeneinheit-Gebläse (2a), den Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2), ein elektrisches Außeneinheit-Expansionsventil (13a), die Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3), einen Sammler (19) und eine Außeneinheit-Rohrleitung, die zwischen den oben genannten Elementen angeschlossen ist und mit mehreren Rückschlagventilen (5a, 6a) und Magnetventilen (4a, 11a, 12a) versehen ist.

4. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei die Außeneinheit-Rohrleitung Folgendes enthält:

eine Ablassleitung (4), die zwischen dem Kompressor (1) und dem Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) angeschlossen ist,

eine Unterstützungsleitung (5), die zwischen dem Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) und der Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3) angeschlossen ist,

eine parallele Leitung (13), die von einer Seite der Unterstützungsleitung (5) abzweigt und wieder mit der Unterstützungsleitung (5) verbunden wird,

eine Gaskältemittel-Leitung (6), die zwischen einem oberen Teil der Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3) und dem Verteiler (B) angeschlossen ist,

eine Flüssigkältemittel-Leitung (7), die zwischen einem unteren Teil der Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3) und dem Verteiler (B) angeschlossen ist,

eine Ansaugleitung (8), die zwischen dem Verteiler (B) und dem Kompressor (1) angeschlossen ist,

eine erste Umgehungsleitung (11), die zwischen der Ablassleitung (4) und der Gaskältemittel-Leitung (6) angeschlossen ist, und

eine zweite Umgehungsleitung (12), die zwischen der Ablassleitung (4) zwischen der ersten Umgehungsleitung (11) und dem Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) und der Ansaugleitung (8) angeschlossen ist.

5. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 4, wobei die Ablassleitung (4) ein erstes Magnetventil (4a) aufweist, das an einer Position zwischen der ersten Umgehungsleitung (11) und der zweiten Umgehungsleitung (12) angeordnet ist.

6. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 5, wobei das erste Magnetventil (4a) während Betriebsarten geöffnet ist, in denen alle Räume gekühlt werden oder eine größere Anzahl von Räumen gekühlt werden und eine kleinere Anzahl von Räumen geheizt werden, und während Betriebsarten geschlossen ist, in denen alle Räume geheizt werden oder eine größere Anzahl von Räumen geheizt werden und eine kleinere Anzahl von Räumen gekühlt werden.

7. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 6, wobei an der ersten Umgehungsleitung (11) ein zweites Magnetventil (11a) angeordnet ist.

8. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 7, wobei das zweite Magnetventil (11a) während Betriebsarten geschlossen ist, in denen alle Räume gekühlt werden oder eine größere Anzahl von Räumen gekühlt werden und eine kleinere Anzahl von Räumen geheizt werden, und während Betriebsarten geöffnet ist, in denen alle Räume geheizt werden oder eine größere Anzahl von Räumen geheizt werden und eine kleinere Anzahl von Räumen gekühlt werden.

9. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 8, wobei an der zweiten Umgehungsleitung (12) ein drittes Magnetventil (12a) angeordnet ist.

10. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 9, wobei das dritte Magnetventil (12a) während Betriebsarten geschlossen ist, in denen alle Räume gekühlt werden oder eine größere Anzahl von Räumen gekühlt werden und eine kleinere Anzahl von Räumen geheizt werden, und während Betriebsarten geöffnet ist, in denen alle Räume geheizt werden oder eine größere Anzahl von Räumen geheizt werden und eine kleinere Anzahl von Räumen gekühlt werden.

11. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 10, wobei die Unterstützungsleitung (5) ein erstes Rückschlagventil (5a) aufweist, das an einer Position zwischen einem Punkt, wo die parallele Leitung (13) von dort abzweigt, und einem Punkt, wo die parallele Leitung (13) damit verbunden ist, angeordnet ist, um zu verhindern, dass Kältemittel aus der Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3) in Richtung des Außeneinheit-Wärmetauschers (2) strömt.

12. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 11, wobei das elektrische Außeneinheit-Expansionsventil (13a) an der parallelen Leitung (13) angeordnet ist.

13. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 12, wobei das elektrische Außeneinheit-Expansionsventil (13a) während Betriebsarten geschlossen ist, in denen alle Räume gekühlt werden oder eine größere Anzahl von Räumen gekühlt werden und eine kleinere Anzahl von Räumen geheizt werden, und während Betriebsarten aktiv ist, in denen alle Räume geheizt werden oder eine größere Anzahl von Räumen geheizt werden und eine kleinere Anzahl von Räumen gekühlt werden.

14. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 13, wobei ein zweites Rückschlagventil (6a) an der Gaskältemittel-Leitung (6) zwischen der Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3) und der ersten Umgehungsleitung (11) angeordnet ist, um zu verhindern, dass Kältemittel von einer ersten Umgehungsleitungsseite zu einer Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtungsseite strömt.

15. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 14, wobei der Sammler (19) an der Ansaugleitung (8) angeordnet ist.

16. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 15, wobei der Verteiler (B) Folgendes enthält:

eine Verteilerrohrleitung zum Leiten von gasförmigem oder flüssigem Kältemittel, das über eine Gaskältemittel-Leitung (6) oder eine Flüssigkältemittel-Leitung (7) empfangen wurde, in Richtung der Inneneinheit (C), und zum Leiten von Kältemittel, das durch die Inneneinheit (C) strömte, wieder in Richtung der Außeneinheit (A), und

einen Ventilteil zum Steuern des Kältemittelstromes in der Rohrleitung des Verteilers (B) dergestalt, dass - entsprechend unterschiedlichen Betriebsbedingungen - gasförmiges oder flüssiges Kältemittel selektiv in Inneneinheiten (C) in jeweiligen Räumen eingeleitet wird und das Kältemittel, das durch die Inneneinheit (C) strömt, zurück in die Außeneinheit (A) geleitet wird.

17. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 16, wobei die Rohrleitung des Verteilers (B) Folgendes enthält:

eine Gaskältemittel-Verbindungsleitung (21), die an die Gaskältemittel-Leitung (6) angeschlossen ist,

Gaskältemittel-Abzweigleitungen (22a, 22b, 22c), die jeweils von der Gaskältemittel-Verbindungsleitung (21) abzweigen und an den Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c) in jedem der Räume angeschlossen sind,

eine Flüssigkältemittel-Verbindungsleitung (23), die an die Flüssigkältemittel-Leitung (7) angeschlossen ist,

Flüssigkältemittel-Abzweigleitungen (24a, 24b, 24c), die jeweils von der Flüssigkältemittel-Verbindungsleitung (23) abzweigen und an das elektrische Expansionsventil (61a, 61b, 61c) in jedem der Räume angeschlossen sind,

eine Verbindungsabzweigleitung (25a, 25b, 25c), die von jedem der Gaskältemittel-Abzweigleitungen (22a, 22b, 22c) abzweigt, und

eine gemeinsame Abzweigleitung, an die die Verbindungsabzweigleitungen angeschlossen sind und die an die Ansaugleitung (8) angeschlossen ist.

18. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 17, wobei der Ventilteil (30) mehrere Magnetventile (4a, 11a, 12a) enthält, die an den Gaskältemittel-Abzweigleitungen (22a, 22b, 22c), den Flüssigkältemittel-Abzweigleitungen (24a, 24b, 24c) und den Verbindungsabzweigleitungen (25a, 25b, 25c) angeordnet sind und gesteuert werden.

19. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 18, wobei der Ventilteil (30) in dem Verteiler (B) so gesteuert wird, dass nur das Magnetventil an der Kältemittel-Verbindungsleitung auf einer Inneneinheit-Seite, die den Raum heizt, und das Magnetventil (31a, 31b, 31c) an der Gaskältemittel-Abzweigleitung (22a, 22b, 22c) auf einer Inneneinheit-Seite, die den Raum kühlt, geschlossen sind.

20. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 4 bis 19, wobei die Rückschlagventile (5a, 6a) und die Magnetventile (4a, 11a, 12a) eine unterschiedliche Steuerung des Kältemittelstromes vornehmen, je nachdem, ob Betriebsbedingungen zum Kühlen aller Räume, zum Heizen aller Räume, zum Kühlen einer größeren Anzahl von Räumen und Heizen einer kleineren Anzahl von Räumen oder zum Heizen einer größeren Anzahl von Räumen und Kühlen einer kleineren Anzahl von Räumen anliegen.

21. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 20, wobei die Rückschlagventile (5a, 6a) und die Magnetventile (4a, 11a, 12a) in der Betriebsart zum Kühlen aller Räume so gesteuert werden, dass das gesamte Kältemittel, das aus dem Kompressor (1) abgelassen wird, in den Kompressor (1) eingeleitet wird, nachdem es der Reihe nach durch den Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2), die Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3), den Verteiler (B), das elektrische Expansionsventil (13a), den Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c) und den Verteiler (B) geströmt ist.

22. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 20 oder 21, wobei die Rückschlagventile (5a, 6a) und die Magnetventile (4a, 11a, 12a) in der Betriebsart zum Heizen aller Räume so gesteuert werden, dass das gesamte Kältemittel, das aus dem Kompressor (1) abgelassen wird, über die zweite Umgehungsleitung (12) in den Kompressor (1) eingeleitet wird, nachdem es der Reihe nach durch die erste Umgehungsleitung (11), den Verteiler (B), den Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c), das elektrische Expansionsventil (61a, 61b, 61c), den Verteiler (B), die Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3), das Außeneinheit-Expansionsventil und den Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) geströmt ist.

23. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 20 bis 22, wobei die Rückschlagventile (5a, 6a) und die Magnetventile (4a, 11a, 12a) in der Betriebsart zum Kühlen einer größere Anzahl von Räumen und zum Heizen einer kleineren Anzahl von Räumen so gesteuert werden, dass das gesamte Kältemittel, das aus dem Kompressor (1) abgelassen wird, in den Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) und die Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3) eingeleitet wird, von wo aus flüssiges Kältemittel in den Kompressor (1) eingeleitet wird, nachdem es der Reihe nach durch den Verteiler (B), die elektrischen Expansionsventile (61a, 61b, 61c) für zu kühlende Räume, die Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c) für zu kühlende Räume und den Verteiler (B) geströmt ist, und gasförmiges Kältemittel über den Verteiler (B), einen Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c) für zu heizende Räume und ein elektrisches Expansionsventil (61a, 61b, 61c) für zu heizende Räume, das mit dem flüssigen Kältemittel in dem Verteiler (B) verbunden ist, in den Kompressor (1) eingeleitet wird und durch die elektrischen Expansionsventile (61a, 61b, 61c) für zu kühlende Räume, Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c) für zu kühlende Räume und den Verteiler (B) strömt.

24. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß Anspruch 20 bis 23, wobei die Rückschlagventile (5a, 6a) und die Magnetventile (4a, 11a, 12a) in der Betriebsart zum Heizen einer größeren Anzahl von Räumen und zum Kühlen einer kleineren Anzahl von Räumen so gesteuert werden, dass das gesamte Kältemittel, das aus dem Kompressor (1) abgelassen wird, über die erste Umgehungsleitung (11) in den Verteiler (B) eingeleitet wird und von dort aus über die Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c) für zu heizende Räume und die elektrischen Expansionsventile (61a, 61b, 61c) für zu heizende Räume wieder in den Verteiler (B) eingeleitet wird, wobei ein Teil dieses Kältemittels über das elektrische Expansionsventil (61a, 61b, 61c) für zu kühlende Räume und den Inneneinheit-Wärmetauscher (62a, 62b, 62c) für zu kühlende Räume und den Verteiler (B) in den Kompressor (1) eingeleitet wird und der andere Teil dieses Kältemittels über die Gas-Flüssigkeit-Trennvorrichtung (3), das elektrische Außeneinheit-Expansionsventil (13a) und den Außeneinheit-Wärmetauscher (2) und durch die zweite Umgehungsleitung (12) in den Kompressor (1) eingeleitet wird.

25. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 24, wobei das elektrische Expansionsventil (61a, 61b, 61c) für die Inneneinheit (C), die den Raum heizt, vollständig geöffnet ist.

26. Multi-Einheiten-Klimaanlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 25, wobei das elektrische Expansionsventil (61a, 61b, 61c) für die Inneneinheit (C), die den Raum kühlt, so gesteuert wird, dass sich das Kältemittel ausdehnt.

Revendications

1. Climatiseur à unités multiples, comprenant :

une unité d'extérieur (A) incluant un échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2) ;

une unité d'intérieur (C) dans chacune d'une pluralité de pièces incluant un échangeur thermique d'unité d'intérieur (62a, 62b, 62c) et une soupape de détente électrique (61a, 61b, 61c) ;

un distributeur (B) connecté entre l'unité d'extérieur (A) et l'unité d'intérieur (C), pour conduire un réfrigérant gazeux depuis l'unité d'extérieur (A) à l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'intérieur (62a, 62b, 62c) de l'unité d'intérieur (C) qui chauffe la pièce, un réfrigérant liquide depuis l'unité d'extérieur (A) à la soupape de détente électrique (61a, 61b, 61c) de l'unité d'intérieur (C) qui refroidit la pièce, et le réfrigérant ayant passé au travers de l'unité d'intérieur (C) de nouveau vers l'unité d'extérieur (A), où, lorsque le chauffage et le refroidissement sont mis en oeuvre individuellement pour les pièces, le réfrigérant liquéfié, tandis qu'il passe au travers de l'unité d'intérieur (C) qui chauffe la pièce, est conduit vers l'unité d'extérieur (A) après avoir été conduit à la soupape de détente électrique (61a, 61b, 61c) de l'unité d'intérieur (C) qui refroidit de nouveau la pièce ; et

une conduite de réfrigérant connectée entre les unités ci-dessus (A, B, C) y compris une pluralité de clapets anti-retour (5a, 6) et de vannes électromagnétiques (4a, 11a, 12a) prévues pour commander les voies d'écoulement du réfrigérant,
caractérisé en ce que
l'unité d'extérieur (A) inclut, en outre, un séparateur gaz-liquide (3) connecté à la face sortie de l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2) pour séparer le réfrigérant provenant de l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2) en un réfrigérant gazeux et un réfrigérant liquide, et pour les évacuer séparément, et en ce que
le climatiseur à unités multiples comprend, en outre, des moyens de commande pour commander une vitesse de rotation d'un ventilateur (2a) d'unité d'extérieur de telle sorte qu'un rapport de mélange gaz-liquide du réfrigérant introduit dans le séparateur gaz-liquide (3) via l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2) est régulé de façon appropriée pour différentes conditions de fonctionnement.

2. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les moyens de commande incluent :

un capteur de température (14) prévu sur une conduite de l'unité d'extérieur pour mesurer une température du réfrigérant provenant de l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2) ; et

un microordinateur pour comparer la température de réfrigérant mesurée au niveau du capteur de température (14) et une température de consigne pour le réfrigérant aux fins de détecter un rapport de mélange de réfrigérant dans le tuyau (5), et pour commander une vitesse de rotation du ventilateur d'unité d'extérieur (2a) pour rendre le rapport de mélange détecté identique au rapport de consigne du mélange requis pour différentes conditions de fonctionnement.

3. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'unité d'extérieur (A) inclut un compresseur (1), un ventilateur (2a) d'unité d'extérieur, l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2), une soupape de détente électrique (13a) d'unité d'extérieur, le séparateur gaz-liquide (3), un accumulateur (19) et une conduite d'unité d'extérieur connectée entre les éléments ci-dessus et ayant une pluralité de clapets anti-retour (5a, 6a), et des vannes électromagnétiques (4a, 11a, 12a) qui y sont prévues.

4. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 3, dans lequel la conduite de l'unité d'extérieur inclut :

un tuyau d'échappement (4) connecté entre le compresseur (1) et l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2) ;

un tuyau support (5) connecté entre l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2) et le séparateur gaz-liquide (3) ;

un tuyau parallèle (13) branché sur un côté du tuyau support (5) et de nouveau réuni au tuyau support (5) ;

un tuyau (6) pour réfrigérant gazeux connecté entre une partie supérieure du séparateur gaz-liquide (3) et le distributeur (B) ;

un tuyau (7) pour réfrigérant liquide connecté entre une partie inférieure du séparateur gaz-liquide (3) et le distributeur (B) ;

un tuyau d'aspiration (8) connecté entre le distributeur (B) et le compresseur (1) ;

un premier tuyau de dérivation (11) connecté entre le tuyau d'échappement (4) et le tuyau (6) pour réfrigérant gazeux ; et

un second tuyau de dérivation (12) connecté entre le tuyau d'échappement (4), situé entre le premier tuyau d'échappement (11) et l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2), et le tuyau d'aspiration (8).

5. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le tuyau d'échappement (4) comporte une première vanne électromagnétique (4a) prévue en une position située entre le premier tuyau de dérivation (11) et le second tuyau de dérivation (12).

6. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 5, dans lequel la première vanne électromagnétique (4a) est ouverte dans les opérations où toutes les pièces sont refroidies, et dans celles où un nombre majoritaire de pièces sont refroidies et un nombre minoritaire de pièces sont chauffées, et elle est fermée dans les opérations où toutes les pièces sont chauffées, et dans celles où un nombre majoritaire de pièces sont chauffées et un nombre minoritaire de pièces sont refroidies.

7. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 4 à 6, dans lequel le premier tuyau de dérivation (11) comporte une seconde vanne électromagnétique (11a).

8. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la seconde vanne électromagnétique (11a) est fermée dans les opérations où toutes les pièces sont refroidies, et dans celles où un nombre majoritaire de pièces sont refroidies et un nombre minoritaire de pièces sont chauffées, et elle est ouverte dans les opérations où toutes les pièces sont chauffées, et dans celles où un nombre majoritaire de pièces sont chauffées et un nombre minoritaire de pièces sont refroidies.

9. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 4 à 8, dans lequel le second tuyau de dérivation (12) comporte une troisième vanne électromagnétique (12a).

10. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 9, dans lequel la troisième vanne électromagnétique (12a) est fermée dans les opérations où toutes les pièces sont refroidies, et dans celles où un nombre majoritaire de pièces sont refroidies et un nombre minoritaire de pièces sont chauffées, et elle est ouverte dans les opérations où toutes les pièces sont chauffées, et dans celles où un nombre majoritaire de pièces sont chauffées et un nombre minoritaire de pièces sont refroidies.

11. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 4 à 10, dans lequel le tuyau support (5) comporte un premier clapet anti-retour (5a), en une position située entre le point de branchement de départ et le point de branchement de retour du tuyau parallèle sur celui-ci, pour empêcher l'écoulement du réfrigérant depuis le séparateur gaz-liquide (3) vers l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2).

12. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 4 à 11, dans lequel la soupape de détente électrique (13a) d'unité d'extérieur est prévue sur le tuyau parallèle (13).

13. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 12, dans lequel la soupape de détente électrique (13a) d'unité d'extérieur est fermée dans les opérations où toutes les pièces sont refroidies, et dans celles où un nombre majoritaire de pièces sont refroidies et un nombre minoritaire de pièces sont chauffées, et elle est opérative dans les opérations où toutes les pièces sont chauffées, et dans celles où un nombre majoritaire de pièces sont chauffées et un nombre minoritaire de pièces sont refroidies.

14. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 4 à 13, dans lequel un second clapet anti-retour (6a) est prévu sur le tuyau (6) pour réfrigérant gazeux entre le séparateur gaz-liquide (3) et le premier tuyau de dérivation (11) pour empêcher l'écoulement du réfrigérant depuis le côté premier tuyau de dérivation vers le côté séparateur gaz-liquide.

15. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 4 à 14, dans lequel l'accumulateur (19) est prévu sur le tuyau d'aspiration (8).

16. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 4 à 15, dans lequel le distributeur (B) comprend :

une conduite de distributeur pour guider le réfrigérant gazeux ou liquide reçu, via un tuyau (6) pour réfrigérant gazeux ou un tuyau (7) pour réfrigérant liquide, vers l'unité d'intérieur (C), et guidant le réfrigérant ayant passé au travers de l'unité d'intérieur (C) de nouveau vers l'unité d'extérieur (A), et

une partie de vanne (30) pour commander l'écoulement du réfrigérant dans la conduite de distributeur (B) de telle sorte que du réfrigérant gazeux ou liquide est sélectivement introduit dans des unités d'intérieur (C) de pièces respectives, et du réfrigérant ayant passé au travers de l'unité d'intérieur (C) est ré-introduit dans l'unité d'extérieur (A) selon différentes conditions de fonctionnement.

17. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 16, dans lequel la conduite de distributeur (B) inclut :

un tuyau de connexion (21) pour réfrigérant gazeux, connecté au tuyau (6) pour réfrigérant gazeux ;

des ramifications de tuyau (22a, 22b, 22c) pour réfrigérant gazeux se séparant chacune du tuyau de connexion (21) pour réfrigérant gazeux et se connectant à l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'intérieur (62a ; 62b ; 62c) de chaque pièce ;

un tuyau de connexion (23) pour réfrigérant liquide connecté au tuyau (7) pour réfrigérant liquide ;

des ramifications de tuyau (24a ; 24b ; 24c) pour réfrigérant liquide se séparant chacune du tuyau de connexion (23) pour réfrigérant liquide et se connectant à la soupape de détente électrique (61a, 61b, 61c) de chacune des pièces ;

une ramification de tuyau de connexion (25a ; 25b ; 25c) se séparant de chacune des ramifications de tuyau (22a, 22b, 22c) pour réfrigérant gazeux ; et

une ramification commune de tuyau dont les ramifications de tuyau de connexion sont réunies et connectées au tuyau d'aspiration (8).

18. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 17, dans lequel la partie de vanne (30) inclut une série de soupapes électromagnétiques (4a, 11a, 12a) prévues sur les ramifications de tuyau (22a, 22b, 22c) pour réfrigérant gazeux, les ramifications de tuyau (24a ; 24b ; 24c) pour réfrigérant liquide et les ramifications de tuyau de connexion (25a ; 25b ; 25c) et qui sont commandées.

19. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 18, dans lequel la partie de vanne (30) du distributeur (B) est commandée de telle sorte que la soupape électromagnétique prévue sur le tuyau de connexion pour réfrigérant sur un côté de l'unité d'intérieur qui chauffe la pièce, et la vanne électromagnétique (31a, 31b, 31c) prévue sur la ramification de tuyau (22a, 22b, 22c) pour réfrigérant gazeux sur un côté de l'unité d'intérieur qui refroidit la pièce, sont seules fermées.

20. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 4 à 19, dans lequel les clapets anti-retour (5a, 6a) et les soupapes électromagnétiques (4a, 11a, 12a) produisent différentes commandes de l'écoulement du réfrigérant selon les conditions de fonctionnement de refroidissement de toutes les pièces, de chauffage de toutes les pièces, d'un nombre majoritaire de pièces refroidies et d'un nombre minoritaire de pièces chauffées, ou d'un nombre majoritaire de pièces chauffées et d'un nombre minoritaire de pièces refroidies.

21. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 20, dans lequel les clapets anti-retour (5a, 6a) et les soupapes électromagnétiques (4a, 11a, 12a) sont commandés de telle sorte que, dans les opérations de refroidissement de toutes les pièces, tout le réfrigérant provenant du compresseur (1) est introduit dans le compresseur (1) après être passé successivement au travers de l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2), le séparateur gaz-liquide (3), le distributeur (B), la soupape de détente électrique (13a), l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'intérieur (62a, 62b, 62c) et le distributeur (B).

22. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon la revendication 20 ou 21, dans lequel les clapets anti-retour (5a, 6a) et les soupapes électromagnétiques (4a, 11a, 12a) sont commandés de telle sorte que, dans les opérations de chauffage de toutes les pièces, tout le réfrigérant provenant du compresseur (1) est introduit dans le compresseur (1), le second tuyau de dérivation (12) après être passé successivement au travers du premier tuyau de dérivation (11), du distributeur (B), de l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'intérieur (62a, 62b, 62c), de la soupape de détente électrique (61a, 61b, 61c), du distributeur (B), du séparateur gaz-liquide (3), de la soupape de détente de l'unité d'extérieur et de l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2).

23. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 20 à 22, dans lequel les clapets anti-retour (5a, 6a) et les soupapes électromagnétiques (4a, 11a, 12a) sont commandés de telle sorte que, dans les opérations de refroidissement d'un nombre majoritaire de pièces et de chauffage d'un nombre minoritaire de pièces, tout le réfrigérant provenant du compresseur (1) est introduit dans l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2) et le séparateur gaz-liquide (3), d'où le réfrigérant liquide est introduit dans le compresseur (1) après être passé successivement au travers du distributeur (B), des soupapes de détente électriques (61a, 61b, 61c) de refroidissement de pièce, des échangeurs thermiques d'unité d'extérieur (62a, 62b, 62c) de refroidissement de pièce, et du distributeur (B), et le réfrigérant gazeux est introduit dans le compresseur (1) après être passé successivement au travers du distributeur (B), d'un échangeur thermique d'unité d'intérieur (62a, 62b, 62c) de chauffage de pièce et d'une soupape de détente électrique (61a, 61b, 61c) de chauffage de pièce, réuni au réfrigérant liquide dans le distributeur (B), et passé au travers des soupapes de détente électriques (61a, 61b, 61c) de refroidissement de pièce, des échangeurs thermiques d'unités d'intérieur (62a, 62b, 62c) de refroidissement de pièce et du distributeur (B).

24. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 20 à 23, dans lequel les clapets anti-retour (5a, 6a) et les soupapes électromagnétiques (4a, 11a, 12a) sont commandés de telle sorte que, dans les opérations de chauffage d'un nombre majoritaire de pièces et de refroidissement d'un nombre minoritaire de pièces, tout le réfrigérant provenant du compresseur (1) est introduit dans le distributeur (B) au travers du premier tuyau de dérivation (11) et, de là, réintroduit dans le distributeur (B) via les échangeurs thermiques d'unité d'intérieur (62a, 62b, 62c) de chauffage de pièce et les soupapes de détente électriques (61a, 61b, 61c) de chauffage de pièce, et une portion du réfrigérant est introduite dans le compresseur (1) via la soupape de détente électrique (61a, 61b, 61c) de refroidissement de pièce, l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'intérieur (62a, 62b, 62c) de refroidissement de pièce et le distributeur (B), et l'autre portion du réfrigérant est introduite dans le compresseur (1) via le séparateur gaz-liquide (3), la soupape de détente électrique (13a) d'unité d'extérieur, et l'échangeur thermique d'unité d'extérieur (2) et via le second tuyau de dérivation (12).

25. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 1 à 24, dans lequel la soupape de détente électrique (61a, 61b, 61c) pour l'unité d'intérieur (C) qui chauffe la pièce est totalement ouverte.

26. Climatiseur à unités multiples selon l'une des revendications 1 à 25, dans lequel la soupape de détente électrique (61a, 61b, 61c) pour l'unité d'intérieur (C) qui refroidit la pièce est commandée pour détendre le réfrigérant.

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